Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1887-01-29

tcularly wishes TO have half an hours con-
versation with youth my presence l am
hound to warn you that he Is very strange
and very ugly old man, and can only hope
that you will look over his personal appear
anoe in consideration Of what he Is likely to
do for you
"Can you conveniently meet us at the far
Their end Of the row of villas in which your
aunt lives, the day after tomorrow, at four
oclockl Let me have one line TO say If you
will keep the appointment, and IL the hour
named win suit you. And believe me your
devoted friend and servant,
ROBERT MOODY
The lawyers warning to her to be careful
how she yielded too readily to any propo'al
Of Moody's required to Isabeps mind while
she read those lines. Being pledged TO
secrecy, she could not consult Mr.. Troy-she
was left to decide for herself.
No obstacle stood in the way of her free
choice Of alternatives After their early
dinner, at three O'clock Miss Pink habtually
retired to her own room, ''to mediate, as
she expressed it, Her 'meditations' in
vaTlably ended in sound sleep Of some
hours; and during that interval Isabel was
at liberty to do as she pleased, After CON
siderable hesitation, her implicit belief in
Moodys truth and devotion, assisted by
strong feeling of curiosity to see the COM
panion with whom the steward had associated
himself decided Isabel on consenting to keep
the appointment
Taking up her position beyond the houses,
on the day and at the hour mentioned by
Moody, she believed herself to be fully pre-
pared for the most unfavorable impression
which the most disagreeable Of all possible
strangers could produce.
But the first appearance of Old Sharon
as dirty as ever, clothed in long, frowzy,
gray overcoat with his pug dog at his heels
and his smoke-blackened pipe in his mouth.
with tall white hat on his head, whiGb
looked as if it had been picked up in gutter,
hideous leer in his eyes, and iaunty trip
in his walk-took her so completely by srr-
prise that she could only return Moody's
friendly greeting by silently pressing his
hand. As for Moody's companion to look
at him for a second time was more than she
had resolution to do. She kept her eyes
fixed on the pug dog, and with good reason,
so far as appearances went, he was indis.
putably the nobler animal of the two.
, Under the circumstances, the interview
: threatened to begin in very embarrassing
manner. Moody, disheartened by Isabels
silence, made no attempt to set the converse
ton going; he looked as If he meditated a
hasty retreat TO the railroad station which
: > he had just left. Fortunately he had at his
: side the right man Qor once in the right
, place. Old Sharon's eifrontery Yves equal to
: any emergency.
II am not a nice-looking old man, my
! dear, am ~ he said, leering at Isabel with
!, cunning, half-closed eyes. "Bless your heartl
: you'll soon get used to me. You see, am
I The sort of color, as they say at the linen
lrapers, that doesn't wash we'll It's all
A., through love; upon my life it is! Early in
i this present century had my young affec-
I tons blighted, and I've neglected myself
over since. Disappointment takes different
= FORMS miss, in different men. l don't think
: have had heart enough to brush my hair
Q or the last fifty years She was a mag
g nifcent woman, Mr. Moody, and sh,
e dropped me like hot potato Dreadful
S dreadful Let us pursue this painful sub
i act no further. Hal here's a pretty coun-
y ryl Here's a nice blue sky! | adj
! nire the country, miss; l see so little Of It,
IS you know Have you any objection to walk
Y llong into the felis' The fields, my dear
e bring out all tho poetry of my nature
|
n hunt about, my man, and find some dog
= grass. Does his inside good you know, after
y meat diet in London. Lord how l fee
IS my spirits rising in this fine air! Does my
!. complexion look any brighter, miss' VIII
y you run race with me, Mr. Moody, or viii
n you oblige me with a back at leap frog' Tn
le not mad, my dear young lady; I'm only
q merry. live, you see in the London stink
| nd ha Of tha baHr nd will
N flowers is too much for me at first 1t get!
! into my head, it does I'm drunk! AS live
l. by bread Pm drunk on fresh air! OH wha
= jolly dayl Obi how young and innocent
IL 10 feev' Here his innocence got the better
+ of him, and he began to sing II wish / wa
80 a little fly, in my loves bosom for to lie'
~ 'Hulo! here we are on the nice soft grass
IS md, oh, my gracious there's a bank running
e; down into hollow / can't stand that, yol
IN know. Mr. Moody, hold my hat, and taxi
T. 5he greatest care of it. Here goes for rol
-, Town the bankw
w He handed his horrible hat to the aston
y shed Moody, laid himself fat on the top o
10 he bank, and deliberately rolled down it
O. Exactly as he might have done when he wa
he 1 boy. The tails of his long gray coat flew
as nadly in the wind; the dog pursued him
10 jumping over him and barking with delight
- le shouted and screamed in answer to tn
he og, as he rolled over and over faster AM
to .aster; and when he got up on the leve
or ground and called out cheerfully to his com
re oanions standing above him, ~ say, yo
IN wo, feel twenty years younger already
III human gravity could hold out no longer
" The sad and silent Moody smiled, and Isabe
in Ourst into fits of laughter.
vn There he said didn't I tell you 20
would get used to me miss' There's grea
do deal Of life left in the old man yet-isn
re- here? Shy me down my hat, Mr.. Moody
And now wen get to business!" He turne
" round to the dog still barking at his heel
Business, Puggyw he called out, sharply
at and PIGGY instantly shut his mouth an
as said no more
iy well, now" Old Sharon resumed, whe
be had joined his friends and had got h
breath again, "lets have a little talk abol
yoarself, miss. Has Mr.. Moody told yo
W. who am, and what want with you9 Yer
zen good. May I offer you my arm9 MOI Yo
'as like to be independent, don't you' All rigl
| oh I, IL Ill